PUMICE AND PUMICITE
(Data in thousand metric tons, unless noted)
Domestic Production and Use: The estimated value of pumice and pumicite sold or used
in 1995 was $12.6 million. Domestic output came from 13 producers in 6 States. The
principal producing States were New Mexico and Oregon, with combined production
accounting for about 65% of the national total. The remaining production was from
Arizona, California, Idaho, and Kansas. About 64% of the pumice was consumed for
building blocks and the remainder was used in abrasives, concrete, laundries, and
many other uses.
Salient Statistics--United States: 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995e/
Production, mine1/ 401 481 469 490 544
Imports for consumption 118 257 143 143 237
Exportse 13 11 18 18 18
Consumption, apparent 506 727 594 615 763
Price, average value, dollars per ton,
f.o.b. mine or mill 22.90 30.99 25.68 24.08 23.15
Stocks, yearend NA NA NA NA NA
Employment, mine and mill 50 50 50 50 55
Net import reliance2/ as a percent of
apparent consumption 21 34 21 20 29
Recycling: Not available.
Import Sources (1991-94): Greece, 67%; Zaire, 8%; Turkey, 7%; Ecuador, 6%; and
other, 12%.
Tariff: Item Number Most favored nation (MFN) Non-MFN3/
12/31/95 12/31/95
Crude or in irregular
pieces, including
crushed pumice 2513.11.0000 Free Free.
Other 2513.19.0000 0.3›/kg 1.7›/kg.
Depletion Allowance: 5% (Domestic), 5% (Foreign).
Government Stockpile: None.
Prepared by Wallace P. Bolen, (703) 648-7727.
PUMICE AND PUMICITE
Events, Trends, and Issues: The apparent consumption of 763,000 tons in 1995 was the
highest since 1986 when 851,000 tons was consumed. Increased demand for pumice in
lightweight concrete and building block was the major factor influencing increased
consumption.
It is estimated that in 1996 domestic mine production of pumice and pumicite will
remain around 540,000 tons, with U.S. apparent consumption at approximately 750,000
tons. Imports, mainly from Greece, continue to maintain markets on the East Coast
and Gulf Coast States of the United States. Imports increased in 1995, returning to
well over 200,000 tons after several lean years.
Although pumice and pumicite were plentiful in the Western United States, changes
that occur in laws and public land designations could make many deposits decreasingly
accessible to mining. Pumice and pumicite was sensitive to mining cost and should
domestic production cost increase, it was expected that imports and competing
materials might replace domestic pumice in many markets.
All domestic mining of pumice in 1995 was by open pit methods and generally occurred
in relatively remote areas where land use conflicts were not severe. Although the
generation and disposal of reject fines in mining and milling resulted in a dust
problem at some operations, the environmental impact was restricted to a small
geographical area.
World Mine Production, Reserves, and Reserve Base:
Mine production Reserves4/ Reserve base4/
1994 1995e/
United States1/ 490 544 Large Large
Chile 450 450 NA NA
France 500 525 NA NA
Germany 650 680 NA NA
Greece 900 1,000 NA NA
Italy 5,200 5,200 NA NA
Spain 700 700 NA NA
Turkey 1,000 1,100 NA NA
Other countries 1,500 1,500 NA NA
World total (rounded) 11,400 11,700 NA NA
World Resources: The identified domestic resources of pumice and pumicite in the
West are estimated to be at least 25 million tons. The estimated resources in the
Western and Great Plains States are 250 million to 450 million tons.
Substitutes: Transportation cost determines the maximum distance that pumice and
pumicite can be shipped and remain competitive with alternate materials. Competitive
materials that can be substituted for pumice and pumicite for several end uses
include expanded shale and clay, diatomite, and crushed aggregates.
e/Estimated. NA Not available.
1/Quantity sold and used by producers.
2/Defined as imports - exports + adjustments for Government and industry stock
changes.
3/See Appendix B.
4/See Appendix C for definitions.
Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 1996